Management School Students help Ripon Businesses

Posted on 15 October 2011

With a mission to improve Ripon by growing it's economy, the Greater Ripon Improvement Partnership (GRIP), a public / private sector partnership teamed up with masters students from the University of York Management School to deliver an innovative project aimed at measuring, managing and ultimately improving the inward investment and attractiveness to tourists of Ripon and district.

Photo Management School Students help Ripon Businesses

On Wednesday, 28th of September, a party of management masters students presented their dissertation project findings to the Mayor and an invited audience of delegates in Ripon City Hall.  This was a culmination of nearly six months work for many of the students since members of GRIP first approached the Management School for advice on Ripon’s economic development issues.

Staff in the School’s Centre for Business Collaboration worked closely with GRIP to develop a model that allowed students to base their masters dissertations on issues related to the economic regeneration of Ripon.   In return, GRIP provided introductions to local businesses together with access to facilities and relevant data.  Six students from the UK, China and Taiwan took up the challenge and undertook project work related to sustainable development strategy, tourism, museum management, civic marketing and community involvement.   

The students submitted their dissertations for assessment alongside their School colleagues and, additionally, presented their findings to the members of GRIP.

Head of the Management School Masters Programme, Philip Warwick and Anne Wylie from the Centre for Business Collaboration travelled with the students to Ripon. 

Philip Warwick said afterwards:  ''The University’s collaboration with GRIP has provided fantastic practical experience for our students culminating in them holding an audience with the mayor, business leaders and other local dignitaries from Ripon and presenting them with a series of really useful recommendations.  It was especially gratifying to see our international students presenting so effectively in front of such an august audience and for them to benefit from such positive feedback.  Let’s hope their findings make a impact in the months and years to come.”

The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Mick Stanley, commented: “The recommendation reports the students produced working in tandem with a range of Ripon businesses have been a true 'win-win', providing Ripon businesses with robust, high quality action plans which will assist us in developing our strategic plan.”

Note to Editors

Picture shows York Management School Masters Students L-R:  Josef Prusinski, Jia Liu, Chin-Chuan Wu, Cherene Marshall, Philip Mason, Liam Dawes and Anne Wylie from the Centre for Business Collaboration with the Mayor and members of the Greater Ripon Improvement Partnership.

Formerly known as Ripon City Partnership, the Greater Ripon Improvement Partnership (GRIP) was formed in 1997 as the central driving force to lead the regeneration of Ripon and to bring together the large number of community groups and voluntary organisations already active in the City's everyday life and development. However, it became widely recognised that Ripon alone cannot rescue Ripon; it needs a hinterland and a larger one than historically. 

The Greater Ripon Improvement Partnership‘s mission is to 'Drive and Deliver Ripon's Development" through:

  • - improvement of Ripon by growing its economy                   
  • - growing its economy by supporting its businesses    
  • - supporting its businesses by promoting its products
  • - promoting its products by marketing to residents, businesses and visitors